Adeline McDermott first became well known to her fellow Jamaicans in the early 1890s, when she was already being styled the Prima Donna of the Kingston Choral Union. The all-Black group, started in 1882 by T Ellis Jackson, had become a prominent feature of the Jamaican entertainment scene. As early as 1892-3 Miss McDermott was being called Jamaicas Patti or Jamaicas Black Patti after the famous operatic soprano, Adelina Patti, and the well-known Black American soprano, Sissieretta Jones, who had toured the West Indies in 1888.
"Mme. Sissieretta Jones," 'The New York Age' (Thursday, December 24, 1908)
Madame Sissieretta Jones, widely known as "Black Patti," was born in Portsmouth, Va., January 5, 1870. Her father, J. M. Joyner, was pastor of the Afro-Methodist Church of that city, and was also chief chorister in the performance of which duties he was ably assisted by his wife, at the time a soprano of exceptional ability. In 1876, Mr. Joyner received a call to Providence, R.I., and the entire family moved to that place, afterward to be the scene of the first musical triumph of the remarkable singer who is the subject of this article.
While yet a mere child, Mme. Jones developed a voice of such remarkable power and quality that she attracted the attention of the musical people of Providence, and no concert was complete without her. Her voice in its early stages was a decided contralto, and even to-day contains the velvety richness noticeable only in the voices of such singers as Scalchi and others.
While singing in concert at the San Souci Gardens she received an invitation to go to New York and sing for Abbey, Schoefield and Grau. She sang at Wallack's Theatre and her success was such that she was immediately engaged for a tour of South America and the West Indies. This engagement lasted for two years, and the tour was so successful that upon her return to this country, Mme. Jones was engaged as the stellar attraction of the enormous jubilee spectacle at the Madison Square Garden in 1886. Her success at this concert was so pronounced that the New York Clipper, an important theatrical paper, gave her the name by which she has become world famous, "The Black Patti." This engagement was followed by a concert tour in conjunction with Levy's Band, and a number of engagements at various expositions. For her one week's appearance at the Pittsburgh Exposition Major Pond demanded and received $2,000, the highest salary ever paid a colored artist. Among other artists appearing at the same time were Campanini, Materna and the then famous Pat Gilmore.
An interesting event in the career of the popular singer at this period was an invitation by the late President Harrison to appear at a private soiree in the Blue Room of the White House. Mrs. Harrison in particular was so delighted that she personally presented Mme. Jones with a bouquet of the famous White House orchids, and the concert was followed by numerous invitations to appear at the houses of Chief Justice Fuller, Senator Andrews and various other notables residing in Washington. Morris Reno, President of the Carnegie Music Hall Association of New York City, next engaged her for a concert tour of the United States and Europe, under the personal management of R. Voelckel, who at that time became associated with Morris Reno. She made her first European appearance at Berlin, Germany, and the 'Berliner Zeitung' in commenting on her debut said: "No sooner had the real Adeline Patti departed than a most worthy substitute appeared in the person of Madame Sissieretta Jones, 'The Black Patti' from America."
The European engagement lasted about 18 months, and no singer was ever received with greater enthusiasm and applause in Europe, than was Mme. Jones. London, Paris, Berlin, Cologne, Munich, Milan, and St. Petersburg seemed to vie with each other in their approval, and the Continental newspapers fairly showered the most favorable encomium on her voice and art. While in London, Mme. Jones received a royal command to appear before King Edward, at that time Prince of Wales, and that popular monarch expressed the most unqualified delight with her performance.
Upon her return to this country, Messrs. Voelckel and Nolan organized the now famous "Black Patti Troubadours." This aggregation of colored artists with Black Patti as the star have toured the country for twelve years, each succeeding year more firmly established their popularity in the principal cities of the United States and Canada. Mme. Jones enjoys the unique distinction of having appeared at more consecutive performances than any living singer.
Madame Sissieretta Jones, widely known as "Black Patti," was born in Portsmouth, Va., January 5, 1870. Her father, J. M. Joyner, was pastor of the Afro-Methodist Church of that city, and was also chief chorister in the performance of which duties he was ably assisted by his wife, at the time a soprano of exceptional ability. In 1876, Mr. Joyner received a call to Providence, R.I., and the entire family moved to that place, afterward to be the scene of the first musical triumph of the remarkable singer who is the subject of this article.
While yet a mere child, Mme. Jones developed a voice of such remarkable power and quality that she attracted the attention of the musical people of Providence, and no concert was complete without her. Her voice in its early stages was a decided contralto, and even to-day contains the velvety richness noticeable only in the voices of such singers as Scalchi and others.
While singing in concert at the San Souci Gardens she received an invitation to go to New York and sing for Abbey, Schoefield and Grau. She sang at Wallack's Theatre and her success was such that she was immediately engaged for a tour of South America and the West Indies. This engagement lasted for two years, and the tour was so successful that upon her return to this country, Mme. Jones was engaged as the stellar attraction of the enormous jubilee spectacle at the Madison Square Garden in 1886. Her success at this concert was so pronounced that the New York Clipper, an important theatrical paper, gave her the name by which she has become world famous, "The Black Patti." This engagement was followed by a concert tour in conjunction with Levy's Band, and a number of engagements at various expositions. For her one week's appearance at the Pittsburgh Exposition Major Pond demanded and received $2,000, the highest salary ever paid a colored artist. Among other artists appearing at the same time were Campanini, Materna and the then famous Pat Gilmore.
An interesting event in the career of the popular singer at this period was an invitation by the late President Harrison to appear at a private soiree in the Blue Room of the White House. Mrs. Harrison in particular was so delighted that she personally presented Mme. Jones with a bouquet of the famous White House orchids, and the concert was followed by numerous invitations to appear at the houses of Chief Justice Fuller, Senator Andrews and various other notables residing in Washington. Morris Reno, President of the Carnegie Music Hall Association of New York City, next engaged her for a concert tour of the United States and Europe, under the personal management of R. Voelckel, who at that time became associated with Morris Reno. She made her first European appearance at Berlin, Germany, and the 'Berliner Zeitung' in commenting on her debut said: "No sooner had the real Adeline Patti departed than a most worthy substitute appeared in the person of Madame Sissieretta Jones, 'The Black Patti' from America."
The European engagement lasted about 18 months, and no singer was ever received with greater enthusiasm and applause in Europe, than was Mme. Jones. London, Paris, Berlin, Cologne, Munich, Milan, and St. Petersburg seemed to vie with each other in their approval, and the Continental newspapers fairly showered the most favorable encomium on her voice and art. While in London, Mme. Jones received a royal command to appear before King Edward, at that time Prince of Wales, and that popular monarch expressed the most unqualified delight with her performance.
Upon her return to this country, Messrs. Voelckel and Nolan organized the now famous "Black Patti Troubadours." This aggregation of colored artists with Black Patti as the star have toured the country for twelve years, each succeeding year more firmly established their popularity in the principal cities of the United States and Canada. Mme. Jones enjoys the unique distinction of having appeared at more consecutive performances than any living singer.
Adelina Patti: born 1843 in Madrid, daughter of a Sicilian tenor. Sang in New York at 7, and made her operatic debut there in 1859. Her voice was an unusually high, rich, ringing soprano. She first performed in London in 1861. She made her home at Craig-y-nos Castle in Wales, and in 1898 became a naturalised British citizen.
In this photo of the Choir in 'Jamaican' costume in 1906 in the U K, Adeline McDermott would appear to be second from the left, in the back row.
Miss McDermott continued to be one of the leading lights of the KCU; in 1901 she sang at a concert in support of Henry Sylvester Williams and the Pan-African Association, and the 'Jamaica Times' wrote of her performance the talent shown, by Miss McDermott in acting and singing is of a marked character, something every Jamaican should be proud of. She acts and she sings as if her heart were in it.
Naturally, when the KCU made their historic tours of Britain in 1906, and again in 1907-8, she was an important member of the choir. During these three years the group, which came to be known as The Famous Jamaica Choir, travelled the length and breadth of the British Isles, singing in theatres and concert halls in many major towns and cities.
After the Jamaica Choir returned to Jamaica, Miss McDermott continued to feature in its programmes, though other, younger, singers, especially Miss Hannah Welsh, were challenging her pre-eminent position. In 1911 she married and was usually after that referred to as Madame McDermott-Tavares. Her singing career continued into the 1920s, but it seems possible that she died in the later years of that decade, since there is no reference to her in relation to the concert tour of the island made by another member of the choir, Joseph Packer Ramsay, who returned from abroad in 1930.
Naturally, when the KCU made their historic tours of Britain in 1906, and again in 1907-8, she was an important member of the choir. During these three years the group, which came to be known as The Famous Jamaica Choir, travelled the length and breadth of the British Isles, singing in theatres and concert halls in many major towns and cities.
After the Jamaica Choir returned to Jamaica, Miss McDermott continued to feature in its programmes, though other, younger, singers, especially Miss Hannah Welsh, were challenging her pre-eminent position. In 1911 she married and was usually after that referred to as Madame McDermott-Tavares. Her singing career continued into the 1920s, but it seems possible that she died in the later years of that decade, since there is no reference to her in relation to the concert tour of the island made by another member of the choir, Joseph Packer Ramsay, who returned from abroad in 1930.
the worthy frog
copyright Joy Lumsden 2006
